Bass Fishing in May

greeleyhill · 02-26-2019, 09:02 PM

Planning on getting the guys together for a weekend get away in mid-May. I was wondering how the fishing is that time of year on the big lake - smallies in particular. Nobody has any experience fishing for trout and my boat isn't set up for trolling. Just wanted to get some opinions on how the fishing might be and where the fish would be and any tips on how to catch them that time of year. All opinions and insights are welcome!
Thanks!

AC2717 · 02-27-2019, 09:08 AM

depends on the water temp really. I have the same in May and we stay off the beds because of the spawn. Don't forget it is catch and release until June 15th (i believe the 15th is the date) We caught at 5 feet all the way down to 30-40 feet. as well as top water over a 30 foot hole it is good bass Fishing though. and bait choices vary by location as well, not just day. catching on inline spinners one minute, then having to switch to bouncing rubbers off the bottom. I will say usually more active in May. Wont be a disappointing trip. Dress warm even with a warm air temp the ride across the lake will cut right through you

fatlazyless · 02-27-2019, 12:28 PM

Going from 48-degrees on May 1, to 63-degrees on May 31, for the top five feet of surface water in Lake Winnipesaukee is totally accurate.

When the surface water temp is below 60-degrees, the smallies will go dive deeper, hibernate, do very little, and eat almost nothing. They basically chill out, and wait for the water to warm up to 60+, starting on or about June 1, and they get hungry for something to eat.

Look'n to catch smallies before June 1 is a waste of time, and you is better off going to the McDonald's to catch a filet-o-fish sandwich.

AC2717 · 02-27-2019, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Going from 48-degrees on May 1, to 63-degrees on May 31, for the top five feet of surface water in Lake Winnipesaukee is totally accurate.

When the surface water temp is below 60-degrees, the smallies will go dive deeper, hibernate, do very little, and eat almost nothing. They basically chill out, and wait for the water to warm up to 60+, starting on or about June 1, and they get hungry for something to eat.

Look'n to catch smallies before June 1 is a waste of time, and you is better off going to the McDonald's to catch a filet-o-fish sandwich.

Hate to disagree with you, i know

, but have had great success in May for multiple years

iw8surf · 02-27-2019, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC2717

Hate to disagree with you, i know

, but have had great success in May for multiple years

Would agree and disagree. I've always had success in the month of May but its totally different fishing than in July or October for example.

Would I tell someone to come up specifically in May to target bass - for the average Joe, No.

Can you be successful and catch good bass? Absolutely.

How to guarantee you wont catch any bass? By not fishing!

kawishiwi · 02-28-2019, 12:58 AM

This lure, a Luckycraft Pointer 100, was pristine at 3pm May 13th with 2 upgraded red hooks.
By 5pm it looked like this after a gang of Smallmouth had their way with it.

All of the perpetrators are still on the loose in Winni...

greeleyhill · 03-01-2019, 09:05 AM

Thank you kawishiwi. Maybe we'll keep the clubs in the trunk so we can get in more time on the water!

Rob M · 04-05-2019, 01:53 PM

Smallie fishing gets better as the month goes on, catch and release only from May 15th to June 15th because they are actively spawning...Mid to late may you can have fun catching them on jerkbaits and topwater, if the water is not in the upper 50's stick to throwing jerkbaits...keep changing colors and depths, and once you find what is working you will have a blast.

April and early may can be the best time of year to find the big smallies, this is the time of year you are most likely to catch them in the 4lb range. After a long winter, they start gorging themselves before they spawn...can be a lot of fun, but can also be very cold!

greeleyhill · 05-13-2019, 06:35 PM

Heading up Thursday - probably going to fish Friday/Saturday. I know the water is still mid 40's but any new updates on smallmouth fishing?

DesertDweller · 05-13-2019, 07:20 PM

I fished for a couple of hours last Monday (the 6th) and got nothing. Water temperature was hovering in the 45 to 48 degree range. Talked to a guy who fished in the tournament the day before and he said he got two smallmouths. For me it was more of a shakedown cruise for the boat than anything but it would have been nice to get at least one. It was nice to get out on the water regardless.

02-26-2019, 09:02 PM	#1
greeleyhill Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 94 Thanks: 57 Thanked 22 Times in 11 Posts	Bass Fishing in May Planning on getting the guys together for a weekend get away in mid-May. I was wondering how the fishing is that time of year on the big lake - smallies in particular. Nobody has any experience fishing for trout and my boat isn't set up for trolling. Just wanted to get some opinions on how the fishing might be and where the fish would be and any tips on how to catch them that time of year. All opinions and insights are welcome! Thanks!

02-27-2019, 09:08 AM	#2
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,544 Thanks: 749 Thanked 350 Times in 263 Posts	depends on the water temp really. I have the same in May and we stay off the beds because of the spawn. Don't forget it is catch and release until June 15th (i believe the 15th is the date) We caught at 5 feet all the way down to 30-40 feet. as well as top water over a 30 foot hole it is good bass Fishing though. and bait choices vary by location as well, not just day. catching on inline spinners one minute, then having to switch to bouncing rubbers off the bottom. I will say usually more active in May. Wont be a disappointing trip. Dress warm even with a warm air temp the ride across the lake will cut right through you __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

02-27-2019, 12:28 PM	#3
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,691 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 992 Times in 723 Posts	Going from 48-degrees on May 1, to 63-degrees on May 31, for the top five feet of surface water in Lake Winnipesaukee is totally accurate. When the surface water temp is below 60-degrees, the smallies will go dive deeper, hibernate, do very little, and eat almost nothing. They basically chill out, and wait for the water to warm up to 60+, starting on or about June 1, and they get hungry for something to eat. Look'n to catch smallies before June 1 is a waste of time, and you is better off going to the McDonald's to catch a filet-o-fish sandwich. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

02-28-2019, 12:58 AM	#6
kawishiwi Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 519 Thanks: 227 Thanked 167 Times in 108 Posts	No Smallmouth in May, ever This lure, a Luckycraft Pointer 100, was pristine at 3pm May 13th with 2 upgraded red hooks. By 5pm it looked like this after a gang of Smallmouth had their way with it. All of the perpetrators are still on the loose in Winni... __________________ "I don't take responsibility at all." Last edited by kawishiwi; 02-28-2019 at 02:34 AM.

03-01-2019, 09:05 AM	#7
greeleyhill Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 94 Thanks: 57 Thanked 22 Times in 11 Posts	Well that settles it! Thank you kawishiwi. Maybe we'll keep the clubs in the trunk so we can get in more time on the water!

The Following User Says Thank You to AC2717 For This Useful Post:
greeleyhill (02-27-2019)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to iw8surf For This Useful Post:
AC2717 (02-27-2019), greeleyhill (02-27-2019)

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to kawishiwi For This Useful Post:
AC2717 (03-01-2019), greeleyhill (03-01-2019), mhtranger (02-28-2019)

04-05-2019, 01:53 PM	#8
Rob M Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 21 Thanks: 10 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Bass Fishing in May Smallie fishing gets better as the month goes on, catch and release only from May 15th to June 15th because they are actively spawning...Mid to late may you can have fun catching them on jerkbaits and topwater, if the water is not in the upper 50's stick to throwing jerkbaits...keep changing colors and depths, and once you find what is working you will have a blast. April and early may can be the best time of year to find the big smallies, this is the time of year you are most likely to catch them in the 4lb range. After a long winter, they start gorging themselves before they spawn...can be a lot of fun, but can also be very cold!

The Following User Says Thank You to Rob M For This Useful Post:
Loub52 (04-05-2019)

05-13-2019, 06:35 PM	#9
greeleyhill Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 94 Thanks: 57 Thanked 22 Times in 11 Posts	Any recent updates on conditions? Heading up Thursday - probably going to fish Friday/Saturday. I know the water is still mid 40's but any new updates on smallmouth fishing?

05-13-2019, 07:20 PM	#10
DesertDweller Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV and Moultonborough, NH Posts: 363 Thanks: 24 Thanked 84 Times in 70 Posts	I fished for a couple of hours last Monday (the 6th) and got nothing. Water temperature was hovering in the 45 to 48 degree range. Talked to a guy who fished in the tournament the day before and he said he got two smallmouths. For me it was more of a shakedown cruise for the boat than anything but it would have been nice to get at least one. It was nice to get out on the water regardless.

The Following User Says Thank You to DesertDweller For This Useful Post:
greeleyhill (05-15-2019)